Amend / Withdraw Norms to Set Up Zoos, Safaris Within Wildlife Sanctuaries

Amend / Withdraw Norms to Set Up Zoos, Safaris Within Wildlife Sanctuaries

Subject : Environment

Section: Environment laws

Context: A Supreme Court-constituted panel has asked the Union Environment Ministry to amend or withdraw the guidelines related to setting up zoos and safaris within tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries to discourage the use of wildlife habitats for tourism activities which are non-site specific.

More on the News:

• Central Empowered Committee (CEC) also said that approvals given for setting up zoos and safaris within tiger reserves and protected areas should be withdrawn forthwith.
• Permission can only be given for activities involving rescue and rehabilitation of injured or incapacitated animals from the same landscape.
• According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines issued in 2012 and amended in 2016 and 2019, tiger safaris can be established in buffer and fringe areas of tiger reserves to “reduce pressure of tourism on core and critical tiger habitats and to foster awareness for eliciting public support”. It is therefore imperative that the guidelines issued in 2012, 2016 and 2019 in this regard are amended/withdrawn.
• The establishment of zoos over forest areas should not be considered a non-forest activity, doing away with the need for approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. Only in exceptional cases, the fringes of the buffer zone of protected areas may be considered for the construction of a zoo on forest land.
• The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) also should not consider and approve the establishment of zoos and safaris within tiger reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, along animal corridors and animal dispersal routes.
• The location of such safaris and zoos shall not endanger the life of the natural population and eco-tourism, and wildlife education should not be at the cost of survival of the endangered species. It should also not result in shrinkage of the already limited habitat available to such endangered species.
• It is a well-accepted fact that zoo animals often harbour deadly diseases and are also a source of transmission of diseases to wild animals despite the stringent conditions imposed by the CZA. Keeping in view the precautionary principles, setting up zoos and safaris within wild animal habitats is best avoided.

Guidelines to Establish Tiger Safari in Buffer and Fringe Areas of Tiger Reserves

• Tiger Safari may be considered for establishment in the buffer and fringe areas of tiger reserves to reduce pressure of tourism from core/critical tiger habitats and to foster awareness for eliciting public support.
• These guidelines apply to those tiger reserves which experience 100% utilization of their carrying capacity in the core/critical habitat.
• The Field Director shall be overall responsible for establishment, management and administration of the tiger safari with inputs from the Local Advisory Committee (LAC). The overall responsibility of the Tiger Safari at the State level would rest with the Chief Wildlife Warden of the concerned State along with oversight of the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi.
• The selection of the animal shall be done in conformity of section 38 I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 after due approval of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA).
• Criteria and procedure for establishment of a Tiger Safari:
  • Tiger dispersal routes shall be avoided in all circumstances
  • The area of a Safari Park may be as large as possible, however, minimum area of a safari for tigers should be 40 hectares, extendable as per requirements. It must be ensured that the biological requirements of the animals kept therein are fully met. Clearances under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, shall be taken wherever applicable.
  • The topography for the safari should be undulating and well drained, without steep slopes
  • The vegetation maintained in the Safari Park should be of an indigenous nature. The density should be regulated according to needs, and to provide naturalistic effect. It should provide shelters and withdrawal areas to animals. It must be ensured that adequate tree cover is always maintained in the safari.

Central Zoo Authority

• The CZA is a statutory bodyconstituted under Wildlife protection act amended in 1992.
• It is chaired by the Environment Minister
• Apart from the chairman, it consists of 10 members and a member-secretary.
• Almost all of them are officials in the Environment Ministry and non-government experts are those who are wildlife conservationists or retired forest officers.
• Functions:1) to specify the minimum standards 2) to evaluate and assess the functioning of the zoos 3) to recognise or derecognise zoos; 4) to identify endangered species 5) to coordinate the acquisition exchange 6) Identify priorities, themes and approval of Master Plan 7) Provide technical assistance to Zoos 8) to release financial assistance to Zoos 9) to ensure maintenance of studbooks 10) to coordinate training of zoo personnel 11) to coordinate research and education.